Ruth 2:1-7

Ruth Meets Boaz

¹ Now Naomi had a relative of her husband’s, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. ² And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” ³ So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech. ⁴ And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you!” And they answered, “The Lord bless you.” ⁵ Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?” ⁶ And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, “She is the young Moabite woman, who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. ⁷ She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers.’ So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest.”

God showered a two-fold blessing on Naomi and Ruth. First, the two women arrived at the beginning of the barley harvest. They were probably very hungry with no means of support. Secondly, God’s goodness and protection for Naomi and Ruth came from the old covenant law of God. Ruth asked Naomi for permission so she could go to the fields and glean ears of grain behind the reapers. To glean or pickup grain that was missed or left by reapers is an old covenant law in Leviticus 19:9 and in Leviticus 23:22, which says, “And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.” These verses show the heart of God. He loves all people and is not a respecter of people. He desires to take care of poor people and sojourners that have nothing and cannot take care of themselves. To do this, landowners were to give a portion of their harvest to the Lord; and in return, God gives the yield to the poor and sojourners. They were to go behind the landowners’ workers who gathered and tied the stocks of grain into sheaves. The law provided food for the poor. The poor and sojourners were allowed to collect any grain that the reapers missed as well as the grain that was on the edge and corners of the property.

Ruth went to glean behind some harvester. Not by happenstance, but by God’s intervention and divine providence and according to His will, Ruth was gleaning grain in the field in the field that belong to Boaz, a worthy man from Elimelech’s clan and people. This is where the narrator of the story is now introducing another main character, Boaz of Bethlehem. The Amplified Bible and the Kings James Version call Boaz a man of wealth. The word worthy in the English Standard Version reflects the character of the man more so than his wealth. Both wealth and worthiness are important in the storyline. Boaz’s character will be revealed in how he interacts and deals with Ruth, Mahlon’s widow, the daughter-in-law to Naomi. What it’s most relevant in this segment, is Ruth coming to glean grain for her and her mother-in-law in the very same field that belongs to Boaz, a kinsman of her late husband. Again, God has meticulously created a story that goes against all expectations. Ruth providentially meets Boaz. This is planned and orchestrated by the hand of God. When Boaz sees Ruth, he asks his workers who the woman is. They responded and told Boaz that this is the Moabite woman who returned from Moab with Naomi. Ruth asked permission to glean behind the. The reapers told Boaz, the woman has worked all day, from morning till the end of the day, except for a short rest.

In application, we really do not know if Naomi and Ruth fully trusted in the sovereign plan of God. They also, like me and you, are learning to trust God and walk by faith. Today’s passage in Ruth 2:1-7, give us plenty to meditate and think about. We see have God is in control of all circumstances. The ladies arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest. Ruth goes out to glean grain behind some reapers. God already provided a law that took care of the poor and sojourners. Ruth ends up gleaning grain in the field of Boaz, a near kinsman to her late husband. This is not by chance. We also must come to realize that everything that happens in our lives is not by coincidence, but by the design of our Mighty God. He is sovereign, omnipotent, merciful, kind, good, and loving. Our circumstances can be great and God intends for us to bring all our cares to Him. He is gentle and lowly and will meet all our needs. We, like Ruth and Naomi, need to trust our God and learn to lean on Him.

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Sovereign Lord, I praise and worship You for Your presence in my life. Help me to see Your presence, works, and divine providence that works all things for good in my life. I confess that I fail in my call to be holy. Help me to love You and desire You more and more every day. Teach me to hate and despise my sin, but to earnestly seek You in Your Word. Give me a passion to know You and follow You, In Jesus’ Name, I pray, amen!

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Leaning on the Everlasting Arms, by Elisha A. Hoffman in 1887, refrain written by Anthony J. Showalter in 1887